The court verdict in the politically motivated criminal case of “Karachaganak Support Services” (“KSS”) was pronounced at 10:00 on 17 May 2021.
1) The director of “KSS” Baurzhan JUSSUPOV was sentenced to 5 years of suspended sentence and 1 year ban to hold the managing positions for alleged tax evasion (Article 245 Part 3), though, he was acquitted on Article 262 Part 2 (“participation in an organized criminal group”) due to the absence of corpus delicti.
2) Natalia DAULETIYAROVA, the founder and director of the companies with which “KSS” worked, was sentenced to 5 years of suspended sentence for issuing invoices without actually doing the work (Article 216 Part 3), for aiding Baurzhan JUSSUPOV in tax evasion (Article 28 Part 5 – Article 245 Part 3) and for false denunciation (Article 419 Part 3), and was acquitted under Article 262 Part 1 (“organisation of an organised criminal group”) due to the absence of corpus delicti.
3) Rinat BATKAYEV, who worked with Natalia DAULETIYAROVA, was sentenced to 5 years of suspended sentence for issuing invoices without actually doing the work (Article 216 Part 3).
Judge: Yerzhan Beketovich ALIPKALIYEV.
We condemn this decision and demand a full acquittal, to immediately remove the seizure of “KSS” account in order to resume full operations, the ability to pay salaries, payments, and taxes.
In the course of investigation, employees of the Department of Economic Investigation put pressure on Natalia DAULETIAROVA and offered her to give false testimony against Barlyk MENDYGAZIYEV so that she would testify that in reality no transactions between “KSS” and her companies under the contracts concluded on behalf of “KSS” – Barlyk Mendygaziyev allegedly took place. That all transactions were allegedly fictitious and aimed at funds laundering.
This is how the Kazakhstani authorities then want to justify an extradition request to the USA for Barlyk Mendygaziyev.
The Kazakhstani authorities are persecuting employees of “KSS”, relatives of Barlyk MENDYGAZIYEV and Barlyk MENDYGAZIYEV himself for his peaceful human rights and opposition activities, for helping to pay politically motivated fines, services of lawyers in political cases and for providing humanitarian assistance to the families of political prisoners and politically persecuted activists.
Kazakhstani authorities took Barlyk MENDYGAZIYEV’S relatives, employees of “KSS”, hostage in order to put pressure on him and force him to stop his peaceful opposition and human rights activities.
According to Barlyk MENDYGAZIYEV, Nursultan NAZARBAYEV’S son-in-law, Timur KULIBAYEV, the Chairman of the NSC, Karim MASSIMOV and the Minister of Energy, Nurlan NOGAYEV are responsible for the attack on the company and the political persecution.
We demand to stop political persecution of Barlyk MENDYGAZIYEV, Baurzhan JUSSUPOV, Bekizhan MENDYGAZIYEV, Kalyk MENDYGAZIYEV, Erik MENDYGAZIYEV, Natalia DAULETIAROVA, employees of “KSS” company.
We thank everyone who expressed support for Barlyk MENDYGAZIYEV, “KSS”, including those who came to observe the trial and participated in the “Hands off KSS” video-challenge.
We call on the embassies of the United States, the European Union, Canada, and the United Kingdom to respond publicly to the repressive actions of the Kazakhstani authorities against “KSS” company, its employees, and its partners in promoting sustainable development.
We support Congressman Benny Thompson’s speech where he urged his fellow members of the U.S. Congress to address the administration of President Biden in order to review the kleptocracy and corruption in Kazakhstan, particularly in the oil and gas sector.
Human Rights Protection Foundation “Freedom Kazakhstan”
Human Rights Protection Foundation “Qaharman”
Human Rights Movement “405”
Human Rights Movement “Veritas”
Human Rights Movement “Elimay”
Human Rights Movement “Article 14”
Human Rights Initiative “Femina Vertute”
Human Rights Movement “BostandyQ Kz”
